Lazistan

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Lazistan (Lazona - ლაზონა in Laz, ლაზეთი - Lazeti or ჭანეთი - Chaneti in Georgian) was the Ottoman administrative name for the sanjak (under vilayet of Trabzon) comprising the Laz or Lazuri-speaking population on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea. However, its boundaries did not coincide with the Laz-speaking area. It covered the land of contemporary Rize Province and the littoral of contemporary Artvin Province. Lazs are ethnographic group of the Georgian people.

In ancient times, the region was a part of the Kingdom of Colchis. In Middle Ages, this region was a part of Georgia until 1578 when it was conquered by Turks. In 1878, eastern portion of Lazistan (including Batum) became part of the Russian Empire. After occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by the Bolshevik Russia (since 1922), the territory has been divided between Turkey and Bolshevik Russia. The sanjak and name was abolished by the new Turkish Republic in 1925.

[edit] See also

• Laz language
• Hayastan (Greater Armenia)
• Lesser Armenia (Cilicia)
• Western Armenia (Ottoman Armenia)
• Kurdistan
• Pontus
• Ajaria